Governor Bobby Jindal's administration has put together a mid-year reduction plan to cover a $103 million gap for the current year's budget. Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols announced the plan Friday.
Jindal seeks to shift dollars from a gaming enforcement fund to plug budget holes, drain remaining dollars from a nursing home fund, and tap into other one-time pools of available cash to lessen reductions. The shortfall is due to falling oil prices that have impacted state revenues.
Nichols says public colleges are not part of the mid-year proposal. But, she cautions, higher education is not off the table for potential cuts in next year's budget. "They warrant a lot of ramp up and they have very significant consequences," said Nichols. Legislators will consider the mid-year plan in a meeting February 20th. The regular session begins in April.
